Why do you speak? What are your motives? Do you speak with honest intentions? Do you speak with a pure heart? Or do you speak with deceitful intentions. Do you speak to lead people to your preferences? Is your message from God?
We talk a lot throughout the day. Whether we realize it or not, much of our talking is meant to cause others to think highly of us or to coax them into agreeing with us. We desire to be heard and sometimes simply speak what we think others want to hear.
Do not misunderstand, it is not wrong to talk about the weather or which dress to wear or what we want for dinner. There is nothing wrong with agreeing to eat something for dinner even if it is not what you prefer. But it is wrong to hold back the truth when we know the other person needs to hear it. We do not need to be completely tactless, but we should not encourage a false narrative.
If we are followers of Christ, we have been entrusted with the message of the gospel, just as the Apostle Paul was. We have been sent in mission, just as the early disciples, to tell others about Jesus. We are to stand on the truth of the gospel and proclaim it. But we are to proclaim it truthfully, without malice, with pure motives, and a desire to bring that person to Christ.
Our mission is not to please others, but we are not to present the message in an offensive manner either. We are to speak the truth in love. We are to speak the truth because we care for others. The message of Jesus, when spoken with love, will change lives forever.
I pray we all speak the truth of the gospel. I pray we speak with pure motives. I pray each one of us will tell others about Jesus with love and a desire to bring them into the kingdom of God. Speak truth. Speak with love. Carry the gospel to others. Encourage them to join the kingdom.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Marty Pressey 